SOLLO:RAGO MODERN AUCTION’S APRIL 2-3 SALE FEATURES THE RARE, DIVERSE AND EXCEPTIONAL
March 23, 2005
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. -Partners John Sollo and David Rago have once again teamed up to bring an outstanding Modern Auction to Rago Arts and Auction Center on April 2-3, with 1,000 lots of desirable, eccentric and unusual pieces from the modern era. As always, LiveAuctioneers.com will provide real-time Internet bidding capability.
Many designers are represented in the sale, with some of the best examples that can be found. "I am excited about this April auction. There are many excellent pieces by noted artists from a number of private collections. It is truly one of the best Modern auctions we have had to date," said Sollo.
Forty works of art by George Nakashima, whose pieces are always an auction highlight, will be featured. Nakashima's work continues to lead the market and Sollo:Rago continues to acquire some of the most desirable examples of this 20th century Modern artform. From the original owner are two fine George Nakashima wall-hanging cabinets, circa 1962. One cabinet features a pinned and dovetailed case construction with a free-edge front and two grilled sliding doors with grasscloth lining, concealing six drawers; and the other cabinet features a free-edge top overhanging at one end with two grilled sliding doors also with grasslike lining and concealing six drawers. When these fabulous pieces are hung in tandem, the tops have a continuing grain pattern. Other Nakashima pieces being featured include a fine walnut highboy with dovetailed case and shallow blind drawer over six larger drawers with recessed horizonal pulls, an exceptional coffee table with a free-edge Persian walnut top on a Minguren base, Nakashima Greenrock stools, early Nakashima lighting, and a tea trolley made of walnut and rosewood. This rare and functional tea trolley was crafted for an important Nakashima patron; the only other tea trolley in existence belonged to Marion Nakashima, wife of George Nakashima.
A large selection of Wendell Castle post-modern pieces from a privately owned collection is also being auctioned. This stunning collection includes many pieces from the Estate of Peter Joseph, such as an outstanding Caligari piano and bench that displays Castle's experimentation of the mid 1980s when he began integrating form and surface decoration with sharp, angular forms and abrupt corners. This design was inspired by the film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, with its angular set designs. The piano itself has Steinway underpinnings, but the overall surface is an elaborate treatment of form and angles heightened by applying black and white paint using the kind of brushstroke typical of the Abstract Expressionist painter Franz Kline. Other exotic pieces offered from this estate include a rare faceted, patinated bronze “angel chair,” circa 1990, considered by many to be Castle's finest achievement. Several other spectacular pieces by Wendell Castle, the master of modern art furniture, include a form sculpture table that can be used on the floor as a table or hung on the wall as a sculpture, a group of unusual cabinets including an “urn cabinet,” several sculptures, and a fabulous 1970 organic stack-laminated 8ft walnut floor lamp with a large globe.
Albert Paley is represented by several outstanding steel pieces including a large, circa 1992 “wave mirror,” featuring a beveled frame with a dark gray patina supporting a free-form blond wood shelf. Other Paley pieces include a pedestal dining table of forged and fabricated steel with dark charcoal patina and a round-edged plate glass top, two pairs of door handles constructed of rolled, twisted and tortured metal that were originally part of a sculptural doorway, and a large 1992 “Amazon mystery table” that is a monumental, sculptural creation of forged and fabricated steel with a white marble top.
Over the years, the works of Paul Evans, a creative and prolific designer, have become increasingly desirable. Evans is well represented with several one-of-a-kind pieces acquired by Sollo:Rago Auctions from a private collection. One of these pieces is a table that was made for a personal friend of Evans’ that is considered a masterpiece. This exceptional table mixes two of Evans' signature styles, with a wave base and a sculpted steel top. And complementing the table is a custom-built, matching set of six high-back dining side chairs with decorative chenille upholstery on arched sculpted steel bases with blue, red and yellow patinas. Other desirable pieces by Evans include an asymmetrical wall sculpture, circa1978, with a complex arrangement of sculpted and applied design elements, a sculpted bronze wall-hanging shelf of stepped form, circa1974; a faceted 1970 buffet, and a custom six-piece bar island with patchwork polychrome finish and welded decoration consisting of three base units, one with an integrated sink, a shelf tower with three glass shelves and two integrated benches on back.
Sure to capture your attention are outstanding ceramics by noted artists from the Modern movement. Works by Peter Voulkos, who is considered a giant of contemporary expressive ceramic sculpture, are represented by three vessels that include a large 26½in brown stoneware totemic vessel with tears, gouges and incised lines and two other hand-crafted vessels. These Voulkos works were made during a demonstration and are from the collection of David Crespi. Another exceptional piece is a cylindrical Natzler vase covered in a superb copper miscrocrystalline glaze with lustered highlights over a dark brown ground. This 11in tall piece is signed Natzler in ink. Other noteworthy pieces include an impressive12in stoneware bottle by Bernard Leach painted with brown fish on a white ground, an important and rare Russian porcelain plate signed and dated by painter, Kasimir Malevich, circa 1923, and a large 1934 charger that is decorated in cuerda seca with two polo players in semi-matte polychrome. Other artists being featured include Beatrice Wood, Vivika, Otto Heino, Paul Soldner, Gambone, Fantoni, Maija Grotell, Davide Salvadore and David Gilhooly.
Amazing pieces of Art Deco being offered include a French Art Deco dining table with brass string inlay to top by Jean Pascaud, a fine secretary with cabinets by Jules Leleu, and a handsome French Art Deco vanity with a circular mirror and inset black marble top, ivory drawer pulls and feet in the manner of Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Pieces by Gilbert Rohde/Herman Miller and Wolfgang Hoffman/Howell will also be offered.
An unusual “polar bear” overstuffed sofa that is one of Jean Royere's most iconic designs is certain to draw a lot of interest. It is upholstered in a plush navy fabric and features low oak feet. A large collection of Karl Springer that is being auctioned includes a massive coffee table with plate glass top resting on a cylinder base at one end and two pyramidal supports in polished chrome and brass at the other, a very rare wall sculpture, circa1980; and an extension dining table with oval bevel-edged top on a double-pedestal vase that is covered in lacquered goatskin. Also featured are works by Edward Zucca, Alphonse Mattia, Forrest Myers, Edward Wormley and Ratell.
Striking and unusual pieces by Vladimir Kagan are being offered with an upholstered rocking chair and ottoman, considered one of Kagan's finest organic designs. Other Kagan works include a swan-back
L-shape sofa, a multi-position reclining chair with a sinuous mahogany frame, a custom-designed double-pedestal desk and an oak side table with a circular top on a sculptural cross-base. Tommi Parzinger collectors will have a choice of several works including a 68in dining table with parquetry top on tapering fluted legs and brass-capped feet, a 72in floor lamp with eight tall candlestick fixtures on a black iron tripod base, an ebonized chest-on-stand and a custom-designed bar. Another exceptional work, Judy Kensley McKie’s 1991 “Faces” cabinet, will be offered. This piece is decorated on its doors and sides with whimsical portraits of men and women in profile.
A highly collectible, one-owner, glass selection with Italian glass by Dino Martens includes a large, stunning cylindrical glass vase with patchwork of white zanfirico rods alternating with rectangular reddish-orange forms, shading to a dark green at the base. Also included in this exceptional collection are works by such artists as Venini, Fulvio Bianconi/Venini, Ansolo Fuga/Avem, Alfredo Barbini, Thomas Stearns, Seguso, and Dale Chihuly.
Scandinavian designers are also well represented with works including an early Hans Wegner “papa bear” chair with exposed teak armrests, flaring dowel legs and the original blue fabric upholstery, early “swan” chairs by Arne Jacobsen/Fritz Hansen, two “chieftain” chairs by Finn Juhl, and a seven piece teak dining set by Finn Juhl/Niels Vodder. Other artists include Bruno Mathsson, Marcel Breuer/Isokon.
An incredible collection of Bertoia sculptures to be offered includes several dramatic "sound" sculptures and a very large 66in “willow” sculpture, a 53in tree-form sculpture from the late 1950s, and a "V" sculpture with two opposing groups of gilded bronze roads mounted on a circular bronze base. In addition to these rare sculptures, ten monoprints are being offered.
Rare lighting includes a vintage Tommi Parzinger chandelier in brass with six candlestick fixtures topped by flaring cylindrical shades and draped with strands of glass beads. Other lighting includes works by Arredoluce, Murano, Verner Panton and Giacometti.
Several woodturnings are being offered along with unusual and rare woven baskets and a monumental, acrylic-on-canvas, self-portrait, circa 1982 by Gene Davis. Also included are works by Jonathan Bonner, Joan Miro, Gio Ponti, Oscar Bach, Edward Wormley, Tommi Parzinger, Dunbar, James Mont and Wharten Esherick.
The Saturday evening portion of this sale, which begins around 5 p.m. EST, consists of 90 works of art from several well-known artists. Included is a striking, signed oil on canvas Opening Night by Jean-Gabriel Domergue, a large framed 1974 acrylic on canvas June Wave by Edna Wright Andrade and an untitled 1968 stainless steel sculpture by Jose De Rivera. Other notable artists include Bernard Lorjou, Boris Lovet-Lorski, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Michael West, Milton Avery, Lowell Nesbitt, Ed Ruscha, Peter Max, Mathias Goeritz, Louise Nevelson, Sol Lewitt and others.
View the fully illustrated catalog and bid absentee or live online through www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
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